NHS Norfolk and Waveney Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) commissions a significant number of Locally Commissioned Services (LCS) from its 105 General Practices. These LCS include services often provided in general practice but which are not part of the General Medical Services contract, such as phlebotomy, minor injuries and treatment room services.
An LCS review has taken place to make sure that services offered to patients via practices are consistent, equitable, sustainable and, most importantly, help achieve good health outcomes for the people of Norfolk and Waveney. The review also aimed to support the resilience of general practice by funding fairly and extending contract lengths where possible.
Following the review, a number of services have been identified that should either stop being provided by general practice, start being provided by general practice or delivered in a different way. An FAQ document has been developed to help answer any questions and concerns you may have.
The service review committed to being open and transparent and was subject to a formal approval process, which included sign off by the CCG Clinical Executive Committee, consultation with the Norfolk and Waveney Local Medical Committee and approval by the Primary Care Commissioning Committee. Service specifications and contracts will be issued to practices to enable services to commence from April 1, 2022.
Six Key Principles
The core driver for the LCS review was to achieve six key principles, which were developed and approved by the CCG’s Primary Care Commissioning Committee to ensure:
- A consistent range of services for patients, no matter where they live in Norfolk and Waveney
- The level of overall investment in general practice services is maintained
- Provide stability and reduce unnecessary bureaucracy
- The review to be transparent and clinically led
- The funding to be fair and reflect the cost-of-service delivery
- The transitional period to be managed sensitively
The review will not change the way in which most patients access services, but in some cases, there will be change in the way people access services which could mean they have to go to a different location. Ultimately, this is about making best use of public money and ensure NHS services can provide the care needed to the people of Norfolk and Waveney.
The review has helped to streamline services to make them operate more effectively, as well as ensuring services are equitably available to people, regardless of where they live in Norfolk and Waveney.
From April 2022 there will be changes to these services:
- Removal of ear wax – GP practices will no longer be commissioned to remove ear wax and this decision has been made on the basis of clinical priority.
Patients should self-care where possible to manage ear wax. For patients who can’t self-care and where self-care has not worked and the patient remains symptomatic (e.g. hearing loss, earache, tinnitus, vertigo, cough suspected to be due to earwax) or where the patient has a hearing aid or needs one fitted, the CCG commissions aural micro-suction services in the community which the patient can be referred, via the GP, for treatment.
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) D-Dimers – Hospital Provision
Historically, West and North Norfolk practices provided DVT assessment (D-Dimer). As this service is available from all three hospital trusts in Norfolk, it is not an appropriate use of resources to also commission the service from all Norfolk practices. Patients will continue to receive appropriate care for DVTs from their local acute hospital trust.
- 24-hour ECG services
Historically, only North Norfolk practices were commissioned to provide 24-hour ECGs and the test was often repeated when patients were referred to hospital. This service is available from all three acute hospital trusts in Norfolk, it is therefore not an appropriate use of resources to also commission the service from all Norfolk practices. Patients will continue to receive appropriate care for 24-hour ECGs from their local acute hospital trust.
Survey
A short survey has been developed so that any concerns can be understood.
Please click here to access the survey. The survey will be open until Friday 25 March, 2022.Read more here at: www.norfolkandwaveneyccg.nhs.uk/locally-commissioned-services-review
FAQ’s
What is the purpose of the LCS review?
The core driver for the LCS review is to ensure that services provided by practices, are fair, equitable, sustainable and most importantly work towards achieving good health outcomes for the whole population of Norfolk & Waveney. The review also aims to support the resilience of general practice.
What are locally commissioned services?
LCS include services often provided in general practice but which are not part of the core General Medical Services contract.
This includes services such as: Eating Disorders Monitoring, Long Term Conditions including Spirometry and Diabetes, Supporting Severe Mental Illness Health Checks, Phlebotomy, Warfarin monitoring, Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Monitoring and Shared Care services etc.
When will changes to services happen?
From 1 April 2022.
Why does the CCG need to change the currently commissioned services
There are several reasons why services are changed, including:
- A persistent and serious risk to patient safety
- The service represents poor value for money
- There is insufficient clinical need/demand to warrant the current volume of service and/or number of providers
- The service model is out-dated or national contractual changes have led to duplication
- The service is no longer a clinical priority
In Norfolk and Waveney, there were also different historical commissioning arrangements in place across the five former CCG areas (West Norfolk, South Norfolk, North Norfolk, Norwich and Great Yarmouth and Waveney). This resulted in some services being commissioned at different contract values and some services not being available to all Norfolk and Waveney residents.
Why is the NWCCG changing from 38 services to 12?
While 38 services were previously commissioned, these were as a result of the five former CCGs’ historical arrangements. Many of the services were similar across the five different areas, however some were not available to all residents of Norfolk and Waveney, others were duplicating national funding arrangements and some did not reflect current best practice. In a few cases, there will be a change to the way people get services which could mean they have to go to a different location. Under the new arrangements planned from April 2022, all Norfolk and Waveney residents registered with one of the 105 practices will now have access to the same 12 services, regardless of where they live.
Will I still be able to access the ear wax removal service?
The production of ear wax is a natural process which helps keep the ear canal clean. In most cases, there is no clinical reason to remove ear wax and people should be able to self-care should they suffer from a build-up of ear wax through the use of ear drops which can be bought in a pharmacy or supermarket, with pharmacists offering help and advice.
In the future people will be asked to look after their ears and the CCG will be providing information to patients to help them prevent earwax build-up.
For patients who can’t self-care and where self-care has not worked and the patient remains symptomatic (e.g. hearing loss, earache, tinnitus, vertigo, cough suspected to be due to earwax) or where the patient has a hearing aid or needs one fitted, the CCG commissions aural micro-suction services in the community which the patient can be referred, via the GP, for treatment.
Why have Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) D-Dimers not been commissioned in general practice?
Historically, West and North Norfolk practices provided DVT assessment (D-Dimer). As this service is available from all three hospital trusts in Norfolk, it is not an appropriate use of resources to also commission the service from all Norfolk practices. Patients will continue to receive appropriate care for DVTs from their local acute hospital trust.
Why have 24-hour ECGs not been commissioned in general practice?
Historically, only North Norfolk practices were commissioned to provide 24-hour ECGs and the test was often repeated when patients were referred to hospital. This service is available from all three acute hospital trusts in Norfolk, it is therefore not an appropriate use of resources to also commission the service from all Norfolk practices. Patients will continue to receive appropriate care for 24-hour ECGs from their local acute hospital trust.